Two men charged with attempting to rob an American couple at a Paget hotel last month appeared in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Michael Bell, 40, and Herculano Arruda, 29, who are remanded in custody, will return to court on December 30 for mention.

The pair face a total of seven charges between them and will be tried in Supreme Court.

It is alleged they attacked Joseph and Charlotte Banzer on November 27 at the White Sands Hotel and attempted to rob them.

Bell is further charged with unlawfully assaulting hotel night manager Mark Browne who apparently came to the couple's aid when he heard the woman scream.

It is alleged Bell caused the night manager bodily harm and that he carried a knife with intent to commit a felony.

Mr. and Mrs. Banzer were attacked in their room by two masked men around 9.30 p.m. after answering a knock at their door.

The middle-aged Ohio couple -- who cut short their holiday -- suffered minor bruises, while Mr. Browne suffered cuts to his head.

MUNDY RECEIVES ADDITIONAL SIX-MONTH TERM FOR STEALING CTS Mundy receives additional six-month term for stealing A 21-year-old inmate received a further six month jail term yesterday for stealing $500 worth of compact discs and stereo equipment.

Kirk Orlando Mundy -- who is serving a five year prison sentence for being an accessory to the murder of Canadian teenager Rebecca Middleton after the fact -- pleaded guilty to the charge in Magistrates' Court yesterday.

Police prosecutor Sgt. Phil Taylor told the court that on October 31, 1995, Gary Sheppard, the co-owner of the Robin Hood pub, parked the company truck at the rear of the restaurant.

He locked all the doors except the rear one and left a portable CD player and a CD holder with 26 CD's on the front seat.

Later that evening Mr. Sheppard heard that some youths were hanging out by the van and went to see what they were doing.

There he saw Mundy climbing out of the rear of the truck with the player and CDs. Mundy ran away and Sheppard gave chase along with two of the pub's patrons.

They caught Mundy and turned him over to the Police. Mundy later admitted that he had taken the loot after he had seen it on the seat while he was urinating by the truck.

SOUTHAMPTON MAN CAUGHT WITH 2.48 GRAMS OF CANNABIS CTS Southampton man caught with 2.48 grams of cannabis Drinking in a public place, swearing at Police officers and possession of cannabis landed an unemployed Southampton man a $400 fine yesterday.

And Rodre Wilson will return to court on March 24 for trial for the charge of possession of 25.69 grams of cannabis with the intent to supply.

There were no further details released on this charge.

The court heard that Police officers saw Wilson, 18, of South Road, standing on Court Street on the morning of June 3 with some other men.

As they drove past, prosecutor Phil Taylor told the court, Wilson shouted an obscenity at them.

They reversed to speak to Wilson and noticed he was drinking beer.

The officers told Wilson to stop drinking and he ran down Dundonald Street and threw the bottle in the bushes. He was caught at the junction of Dundonald and Princess streets.

Wilson was put in the back of the Police car and taken to Hamilton Police Station where the car was searched in his presence.

On the floor where Wilson had been sitting, the officers found a piece of silver foil containing five brown paper twists of plant material.

Wilson first denied then admitted the twists were his and upon analysis they were discovered to contain 2.48 grams of cannabis.

He told the officers: "I'm sorry for my ignorance.'' Senior Magistrate William Francis fined Wilson $100 for using offensive words in a public place, $100 for drinking in a public place and $200 for possession of cannabis.

GOVT. EMPLOYEE PERMITTED TO KEEP LIGHT VAN LICENSE CTS Govt. employee permitted to keep light van license A Works and Engineering supervisor was allowed to keep his light van licence on Friday after he admitted to driving while impaired.

Lloyd Burch, 43, of Collectors Hill, Smith's Parish, pleaded guilty to the charge in Magistrates' Court.

Police stationed at Kindley Field Road, St. David's at 12.45 a.m. on November 24 saw Burch's car cross the centre line several times as he travelled west, prosecutor Sgt. Phil Taylor said.

When Police stopped the car near Blue Hole Hill they noticed that Burch's breath smelled of alcohol, his eyes were glazed, and his speech was slurred.

Sgt. Taylor said Burch -- who told them he "just had one beer'' -- was taken to Hamilton Police Station where tests showed that he had at least 167 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood. The legal limit is 80 milligrams of alcohol in 100 millilitres of blood.

Burch apologised for the offence and produced a letter from highways engineer manager Bruce Perinchief informing the court that Burch needed his licence for his job.

After reading the letter, Senior Magistrate Will Francis said: "There will be a higher fine and a longer suspension, but just for that class of vehicle you were driving.'' He ordered Burch to pay a $600 fine and banned him from driving private cars for two years.

"This will enable you to drive your van,'' Mr. Francis said.